Combined cigar tip cutter and match safe



No. 607,365. Patented July I2,- lass. E. m. HALL.

COMBINED CIGAR TIP CUTTER AND MATCH SAFE.

(A lication filed Feb. 21 1898.

No. 607,365. Patented m I2, I898. E. m. HALL.

COMBINED CIGAR TIP CUTTER AND MATCH SAFE.

(Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 7 2 ShBBT8--S|IBBT 2.

j I? a U 9 if u lllLliJlllIlllllll *mIHIIIIUHHI ,mm mum.

W/7'NESSES '1 1 y a I A: A TTOHNEYS livrrn' STATES PATENT Fries.

EZRA MERIT HALL, OF LA OROSSE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK A. BIGELOWV AND VOLNEY A. BIGELOIV, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED CIGAR-TIP CUTTER AND MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters I Patent No. 607,365, dated July 12, 1898. Application filed February 21,1898. smart. 671,117. on model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, EZRA MERIT HALL, citizen of the United States, residing at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Cigar- Tip Cutter and Match-Safe; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such-as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in cigar-tip cutters of that class in which a cutting-blade moving across the cigar-tip-receiving aperture and actuated by a hand-le Ver is employed to cut off the tip; and the primary object of my invention is to provide a cigar-cutter having a match-reservoir and a match-delivery device adapted to be operated simultaneously with the cutter to deliver a lighted match to the smoker for convenience in lighting his cigar. The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined descritption.

WVith the accomplishment of these ends in View my invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described,and specifically set forth in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarcutter embodying my invention, illustrating its manner of use. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same with top plate or cover removed. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section. Fig. his a horizontal section on line 4 4: of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a vertical longitudinal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a broken detail view showing the match-clamp in front elevation; Fig. 7, a longitudinal section of same on line 7 7, showing the match-clamp in side elevation; Fig. 8, a top plan view of a portion of the top plate or cover.

Like reference letters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A represents the body portion of the casing or housing of the cutter, which rests upon a base-plate B and is closed by a top plate or cover 0. This top plate or cover is provided with a longitudinal slot 0 and an aperture cl, in which the tip end of the cigar to be cut off is inserted in the usual manner and is secured to the body of the casing by a screw d, which enters a threaded opening in a transverse division-wall E on the interior of said body portion. I may, however, hinge the coverplate to the casing-body or secure it thereto by a spring-clasp, so that it may be readily and conveniently lifted up or detached whenever it is desired to have access to the casing. The base-plate is open at the center and formed with surrounding side and end flanges f, which support the casing-body A, and with a hollow rim f. In the chamber formed by this rim a shallow tray or pan F may be placed to receive the match-stems and cigartip cuttings dropping from the casing. The body portion of the casing A may be secured to this base-plate in any desired manner; but

in the present instance screws projecting up ward through openings in the flanges f and entering threaded orifices in bosses g on the sides of said body portion are provided for this purpose.

The interior of the casing is divided into two independent compartments H I by the division-wall E, the lower end E of which is curved toward the end wall J of the casing to form, with an inwardly-projecting flange J, extending from said end wall, a bottom'for the said compartment H, which serves as a match-reservoir, said bottom being provided with a comparatively narrow eduction slot or opening j, through which the matches dis charge. In this reservoir is a follower-plate k, which is notched to receive and slides on guide-flanges k, and this plate may be pro videcl with a finger-opening or its equivalent for convenience in removing it.

The cutter-blade m is pivoted at one end to the under side of the cover-plate O, and is formed with an angularly-disposed elliptical slot m and a cutting edge m which is adapted to cut off the tip end of the cigar inserted through aperture d. Extending through this slot is the upper arm 0 of an operating-lever O, which projects through the slot 0 in the cover and is provided at its outer end with a finger or thumb piece 0. This lever is rigidly mounted on or cast integrally with a rockshaft 17, journaled in bearing'recesses in the upper ends of bearing-ribs 13, formed 011 the side walls of the case, and the lower arm Q of said lever projects down into the compartment I. A spiral spring (1, surrounding said shaft,has one end bearing against the divisionwall E and its other end connected with the lever and serves to retract the lever. The mode of operation of these parts will be readily understood.

Below the match-reservoir and arranged to slide on the side flanges of the base-plate B is a reciprocating match-deliveryplate P,the front portion I of which is adapted to be projected exteriorly through an opening 1' below the flange J. The rear end of this plate is bifurcated to enable the cuttings to drop through to the tray F, and between the arms of this bifurcation the plate is provided with an eye 8, to which is connected one end of a link or connecting-rod N, the opposite end of said rod being connected to the lower end of the lever-arm Q whereby the delivery-plate and cutter-blade are operated simultaneously upon moving the lever. The said front portion P of the delivery-plate normally rests under the match-reservoir II and fits snugly against the flange J, so as to retain the matches in position. It is formed with a transverse groove t, designed to receive but a single match at a time, and ribs or corrugations t in rearthereof. These ribs or corrugations allow the matches to have limited up-and-down movement at each reciprocation of the delivery-plate, whereby they are loosened up and prevented from sticking together. The body portion of the match-delivery plate is made somewhat narrower than the casing, so that the ends of the match contained within the groove twill project laterally therefrom, and in order to compensate for this I provide the plate with flanges Q R, located on opposite sides thereof, which bear against the opposite sides of the casing and insure the movement of the plate in a direct line. The flange Q extends from the rear end of the plate to the corrugated portion t, and the flange It from said corrugated portion to the outer end of the front-plate portion P. By this construction a space is formed at one side of the plate in advance of the flange Q, into which the head of the match projects to c011- tact with a scratclrplate and stop-plate at that side, while a space is also afforded at the opposite side above flange B, into which the end of. the match stem or splint projects and in which the match-clamp at the front of the casing is located, as will now be described.

The main scratch or igniter consists of a plate S, secured by a screw at one end and formed at its opposite end with a serrated flange or rasp a, which is arranged in the path of the match-head and immediately below the flange-wall J. Projecting through the wall of the casing is a set-screw it, which bears against said serrated flange or rasp,

whereby the latter may be adjusted to operate upon different lengths of matches. A spring-metal stop-plate T is located in rear of the striker-plate, and one end of this stopplate is secured to the contiguous side flange f of the base-plate B, while its free end n is curved upwardly and bears against the under side of the flange-wall J.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows: The tip end of the cigar is inserted in the aperture (Z and the lever 0 then moved toward the rear end of the easing in the manner shown in Fi 1 to operate the cutter-blade m, which cuts off the tip. At the same time the match-delivery plate is moved forward by the lever-arm Q and the head of the match rides over the curved end o of the stop-plate T and comes in contact with the serrated flange or rasp u of plate S, ;which ignites it. The further movement of the delivery-plate projects the front end P thereof eXteriorly through the opening 0', and the lighted match is thrown out of the groove i at an angle, as shown in Fig. 1, in position to be conveniently removed for lighting the cigar. The retractor-spring q restores the parts to their normal position. As above stated, the match-head rides over the curved end 1; of stop-plate T and is then immediately ignited by the serrated flange u. \Vhen this takes place, the said end 1) assumes its normal position and prevents the ignited match from moving inwardly, thereby avoiding ignition of the matches in the reservoir 11.

In order to prevent the match delivered from being thrown off the delivery-plate by the outward movement of the same and at the same time insure its proper displacement from groove 25, I have provided a novel form of clamp device. This consists of a wire having its central portion secured by bindingscrews .1; ar, entering threaded orifices in a boss formed at one side of the casing at the base of the front wall J. The ends to in of this wire project inwardlyin close relation from said screws a short distance and are then bent at right angles and spread apart and enter the casing above flange R, the extremity of the end w being secured by a screw 50 to the under side of flange-wall J and the extremity of the end 20 being free and resting on said flange R. In operation the end of the match projecting above flange It is reoeived between the clamp-wires at the instant the head of the match is ignited and is clamped thereby. lVhen the front portion of the delivery-plate projects through the opening a, the lighted end of the match, being unconfined, is thrown out of groove '6, while the opposite end thereof is firmly held by the clamp device until released by the operator.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood, and it will be seen that a simple, convenient, and efficient construction of combined cigar-tip cutter and match-safe is provided. It is obvious that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing 5 from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ad vantages thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cigar-tip cutter, the combination of a casing provided With a match-reservoir, a cutter, a reciprocatory match-delivery device, means for operating said cutter and delivery device, an igniting-plate provided at its free I 5 end with an igniting-face, and a set-screw for adjusting said free end of the plate, substantially as described.

2. In a cigar-tip cutter, the combination with a casing provided with a cigar-tip aperzo ture and a match-reservoir, a cutter, a horizontal reciprocatory match-delivery plate arranged below said reservoir, a match-igniter extending parallel with the plate and having an igniting-face adjustable toward or from the adjacent side edge of said plate, a stopplate arranged in rear of the face of the igniter to prevent the return of a fed match,

'and means for operating said cutter and match-delivery plate, substantially as de- 0 scribed.

3. In a cigar-tip cutter, the combination of a casing having a cigar-tip aperture and a match-reservoir, a cutter, a match-delivery plate adapted to be projected through an 3 5 opening in the wall of the casing, means for operating said cutter and match delivery plate, an adjustable match-igniter, a stop to prevent the return of a fed match, and a clamp independent of said igniter and stop 40 device to receive and hold the unignited end of the match, substantially as described.

4. In a cigar-tip cutter, the combination of a base-plate, a casing resting thereon and provided with a cigar-tip aperture and a matchreservoir, a cutter below said aperture, a

match-delivery plate mounted to slide horizontally on the base-plate and to be projected through an opening in the casing, said plate being provided with a match receiving groove, means for simultaneously operating said cutter and delivery-plate, and a matchigniter extending parallel with the deliveryplate and having an igniting-face arranged to project into the path of the head of a match 5 5 resting thereon, substantially as described.

5. In a cigar-tip cutter, the combination of a base-plate, a casin g resting thereon and provided with a match-reservoir and a cigar-tip aperture, a cutter below said aperture, a

match-delivery plate below the reservoir provided on opposite sides thereof with flanges arranged at the front and rear of its center and sliding on the base-plate, means for operating the cutter and delivery-plate, and a match-igniter secured to the casing in front of the said rear side flange of the deliveryplate, substantially. as described.

6. In a cigar-tip cutter, the combination of a base-plate, a casing resting thereon and provided with a match-reservoir and a cigar-tip 7o aperture, a cutter below said aperture, a match-delivery plate below the reservoir provided on opposite sides thereof with flanges arranged at the front and rear of its center and sliding on the base-plate, means for op- 7 5' erating the cutter and delivery-plate, an ig-. niting-plate secured to the side wall of the casing in front of the rear side flange of the delivery and having a free end provided with an igniting-face, and a set-screw for adjust- 8c ing the said free end of the igniting-plate, substantially as described.

7. In a cigar-tip cutter, the combination of a base-plate, a casing resting thereon and provided with a match-reservoir and a cigar-tip aperture, a cutter below said aperture, a reciprocatory match-delivery plate provided with a transverse match-receiving groove and flanges arranged on opposite sides thereof and at the front and-rear of its center, means 0 for operating the cutter and delivery-plate, a stop-plate secured to the base-plate below the match-reservoir in line with and in advance of the said rear side flange of the delivery-plate, and adapted to prevent the return of a fed match, and a match-igniter secured to the casing adjacent to said stop-plate and having an igniting-face arranged in advance thereof, substantially as described.

8. In a cigar-tip cutter, the combination of a base-plate, a casing mounted thereon and provided with a match-reservoir and an open ing in one of its walls immediately above the base-plate, a reciprocatory match-delivery plate provided on opposite sides thereof with flanges arranged at front and rear of its center and with a transverse matchgroove, means for operating the plate, a match-igniter secured to the casing in advance of thesaid rear side flange of the delivery-plate, and a no clamp to receive and hold the unignited end of the match arranged in the said opening of the casing above the front side flange of the delivery-plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EZRA MERIT HALL. Witnesses:

JOHN JAcoB EscH, WALTER 0. WINTER. 

